Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
15 May 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 20 days
Feedback
13
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Details
Description
My wife and I have two young children (9 and 6) in Matsumoto, Japan. We are busy with a wide variety of fun stuff. We live on a fantastic and beautiful street in the heart of our small city (Matsumoto), and are looking for people to help with a variety of things, from spending time with our kids, helping clean up the river along our street, or helping Chris with random DIY activities. Recently, one of the best things I'd like to do is identify your main skills and passions, and find a way for you to teach a bit of it to our children. For example, if you are good at drawing and painting, or good with designing stuff on the computer, or good at knitting, etc. I'd love for our kids to have an experience learning something that you enjoy.
Staying at our place is a good opportunity for those who:
-like music
-want to experience Japanese countryside
-enjoy nature and mountains
-like kids
-want to learn Japanese
-want to meet other travelers
-want to learn how to become involved in city improvement projects
I hope to hear from you!
-ChrisTypes of help and learning opportunities
Language practiceHelp with Eco ProjectsDIY and building projectsBabysitting and creative playHelp around the houseGeneral MaintenanceCultural exchange and learning opportunities
I think you will receive a very interesting insight into how Japanese life and systems work around most of Japan. Also, you will experience a lot of art (especially music) here. Please look up Matsumoto city online. It is a wonderful place!
Areas of cultural interest here are:
-music (Fujigen guitar manufacturer is from here, as well as Mr Suzuki from the Suzuki Method, and Seiji Ozawa, Japan's top classical composer)
-art (Yayoi Kusama is from here)
-temari (traditional yarn ball decorations)
-food (soba, wild mountain vegetables and mushrooms, wasabi, apples, grapes)
-history (Matsumoto castle and many wonderful shrines)
-education (first elementary school in Japan, and one of the leaders of Japan's initial public school system development)
-mountains (many Japanese people come here to work in mountain huts for the season)Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We used to have business work available in our guesthouse, but we will no longer need help with guesthouse work or other business activities. There will be a variety of other tasks ready to be worked, depending on your interests and skills!
These are some things you could help with these things:
-with our kids: teaching them something you enjoy (playing/drawing/reading with them, etc)
-with music: helping setup small music performances on the street. We invite musicians to busk on the street in front of our place on weekends, and we like to help by setting things up or providing equipment (we have lots of music equipment). We also recently started hosting free live music regularly on Thursdays. You can even play music if you wanted to!
-basic DIY of things around the building.
-other miscellaneous tasks, such as cleaning or trimming bushes. Helping us clean the riverside with our neighbors.Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Japanese: FluentAccommodation
You will stay in a room on 2nd floor. You will either have the room to yourself, or you might share it with one other person. If you need a private room, please ask us about the time period if there is anyone else scheduled to share the room at that time. Kitchen, sinks, and living room are shared spaces.
What else ...
With time off, there is so much to do. We live in a prime location in Matsumoto city. You can walk or bicycle to any city activities and parks. You can walk to the station to take a train or bus to any of the nearby mountains for hiking, or make day trips to nearby small traditional villages.
Some of my favorites are:
-Matsumoto castle
-Alps park
-Utsukushigahara mountain
-Kamikochi national park
-Norikura mountain
-Hakuba mountain area
-Nagano city and Zenkoji temple
-Narai Juku (famous and very small post town on the old Nakasendo trail)
-Daio wasabi farm
-Hotaka shrineA little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
One
Hours expected
4 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (7)
We had a truly nice time in Matsumoto with Chris, Kumi, Hana, Nico and Kumi's mom! It… read more
Chris is very kind and… read more
It's so relaxed and beautiful around and it's such a pity (for me) that the national mountain parks were all closed to visit them on a free day. Staying in the hostel gave me some privacy after few months of intense travelling and helping with the check-in… read more
Feedback
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(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(4.7)
We had a truly nice time in Matsumoto with Chris, Kumi, Hana, Nico and Kumi's mom! It… read more
Chris is very kind and… read more
It's so relaxed and beautiful around and it's such a pity (for me) that the national mountain parks were all closed to visit them on a free day. Staying in the hostel gave me some privacy after few months of intense travelling and helping with the check-in… read more
The two months that I spent with them flied and this was because it was not really working but helping out each… read more
Thank you for all your help! And your Japanese is wayyyyy better than mine.
I helped them with the check-in of the guests so it is a lot of presence time (I was there but doing my things) : really easy ! I also helped once… read more
They welcomed me like a member of their family, trusted me and I thank them.
During my stay I had a comfortable room with air conditioning. I had the chance to meet incredible people in the guesthouse but also in the café just downstairs. I hope to be able to come back one day ! I… read more